- Ever since the Congress party made a spectacular comeback by winning the Karnataka state assembly elections handsomely with more than a comfortable majority, one of the most incessant questions being raised from different quarters must be about whether the present Deputy Chief Minister would eventually succeed in becoming the next Chief Minister, replacing the incumbent. As the whole country is aware, the Grand Old Party rode on the smartly conceived election manifesto promising five guarantee schemes covering women, youth, and the unemployed in equal measure. That the promises could cut ice with the electorate was amply evident when the party rode to power with such a majority. But what about the governance amid a power struggle?
PC: Deccan Herald
- To its credit, the incumbent government did implement the promised guarantee schemes with much fanfare, and the results, though, are mixed, with several complaining about not receiving the direct benefit transfers on time. Amid all these popular socio-economic measures, one of the most interesting facets has been the talk about a secret power-sharing agreement between the two tallest and powerful leaders of the party after the government crosses the halfway mark. However, the incumbent CM is loath to hand over the highest office of the state, insisting on several occasions on completing his term without any break whatsoever. And there are supporters allied with the two leaders issuing statements extending support sporadically. It’s chaotic.
PC: Business Line
- It’s not rocket science to comprehend that governance has taken a definite hit when the two power centres are making every effort to pull in different directions. Though both the leaders have shown enough restraint over the last few months, expressing that whatever decision made by the party High Command will be followed diligently, there is no denying the fact that both wish to ensure they stand their respective grounds. Further muddying the already troubled waters are a few other equally important leaders representing the influential communities who wish not to be sidelined in the struggle for one-upmanship. We know how the labyrinthine caste conundrum plays such a critical role in the Indian political landscape. Karnataka is no different.
PC: National Herald
- The moot point to ponder over here is whether the party High Command would honour the pact made when the two leaders were hellbent to head the victorious Congress government. The DCM has recently issued a veiled statement that, indeed, such a pact was made about sharing the power, known to four or five leaders back then. After the humiliating drubbing in the Bihar assembly elections, the Congress high command must be careful before initiating any move that would render the party in an extremely vulnerable position. What is of some reassuring solace must be that the opposition BJP in the state cannot exploit the situation unfolding in the ruling dispensation to its advantage yet. Interesting times are ahead for sure. Watch out for this space.
